As a business leader, you manage a constant stream of responsibilities. With so much to handle everyday, there’s no time to worry about the mundane technical tasks of website management. Not to mention the time it would take to actually accumulate the necessary skills. You understand the value of reliable website management services.

Chances are, you came to this conclusion through a firsthand experience. Maybe the site went down right before a campaign launch; or you’re just tired of feeling stressed and overwhelmed because your current website manager dropped the ball again.

The latter happens more often than you think, unfortunately. Many companies come to me with a stressful tale… They hired an unethical service provider who keeps demanding payment, but never actually delivers any value.

Ready to fire your website developer?

Unprofessional, overpriced web developers and designers are the reality for so many businesses today. But it doesn’t have to be your reality. Whatever your company website needs are, let’s talk about them! Contact us today.

Hopefully, you haven’t had to experience this type of website management service. But if this sounds familiar, this first section is for you…

Warning! You’re Getting Scammed By a Web Developer

Based on the countless stories I hear from business managers and their team members, unethical website developers pose a serious problem in my industry. That kind of statement has created some hostile tension between me and my peers, but someone needs to say it.

It’s not my responsibility to pander to my peers. Rather, I’m here to maximize your website’s value — even if that means ruffling some feathers.

These types of unreliable services give all digital professionals a bad name. I’m left working twice as hard to prove we’re not all unreliable, unresponsive and, quite frankly, overpriced. You shouldn’t feel hostage to a web developer refusing to give you access to your content, update your website, keep everything functioning, or even answer a simple email!

On top of all that… website management isn’t even a website developer’s job!

Many developers use website management service contracts as a way to make maximize their income. They build your site then keep you paying a monthly fee even if they aren’t adding value. And the few tasks they DO complete? It’s not their primary (or even secondary) focus!

Your website falls low on their priority list because it’s viewed as “passive” income. You quickly learn how difficult it is to get even the smallest changes implemented. Then things really take a turn when the website goes down for days – or even weeks – without a solution or response.

You deserve better.

Instead, Hire a Value-Driven WordPress Consultant

Businesses rely on a website to serve as a foundational support for brand awareness, lead generation and customer retention. You need a reliable website consultant who cares enough to keep this pillar strong and functional.

I don’t want to drain your budget for easy money. As your WordPress consultant, I’m here to provide the value, attention and technical support your business needs. Here’s the thing: I’m not a website developer.

I’m not using website management services as easy passive income to support the project that I really enjoy. This is what I really enjoy.

Over a year ago, I completely stopped doing any website development projects. Honestly, building websites didn’t fulfill me. Now, I only sell website management services and WordPress training. I’m happier, and so are my clients!

As your WordPress consultant, I can focus on the small, day-to-day details that keeps everything running smooth. No more agencies ignoring you because there are “more pressing” projects and “more important” clients. I’m here for you, every day.

Characteristics of a Best-In-Class Website Consultant

Okay, so we’ve talked a bit about the dangers creeping in the darker side of my industry. However, there are plenty of us who are value-driven and ethically-based.

Even if you don’t use my services, I want you to know how to tell the heroes from the villains. I want you to find the right consultant who will really give you help with WordPress. With that in mind, here are some characteristics of a best-in-class website consultant…

1. She Shares Progress in a Consistent, Honest Way. If someone isn’t willing to regularly report on the things they’ve accomplished, run far away.

2. She Keeps Her Word and Reliably Executes Deliverables. Plenty of people know how to talk the talk. Make sure you hold them accountable to walk the walk. Ask for references and don’t be afraid to walk away if they can’t meet expectations.

3. She Seeks to Serve Your Company’s Individual Needs. Each website has different needs. Find someone who understands the unique challenges and requirements of your business. Avoid cookie-cutter agreements with anyone who seems disengaged.

4. She Values Authenticity and Loves Teaching. You may not ever want to manage this yourself, but most business owners like to know a bit about everything. Make sure your WordPress consultant is willing and eager to answer your questions.

5. She Prioritizes Responsive Communication. Disasters can happen at any time. It shouldn’t take days (or weeks) to get a response. If something goes wrong, you should trust your consultant will be there with a solution ASAP.

There’s a key concept in behavioral economics called sunk cost fallacy. Basically, it’s that voice in your head that keeps saying, “I’ve already spent so much money with this web developer. I can’t afford to drop them now!”

The truth is, you can’t afford NOT to!

Let go of the “professional” that just wants YOU to support THEM with that monthly retainer fee.

Think about all the days or weeks you waited for a simple email response. How many times have you had to ask (or argue) for access to your own content or website?

What if you spent that time on activities to generate new business? Would your company have more customers or greater brand awareness? How many sales have you lost because a lazy website developer didn’t do the job?

It’s time to invest in a website management team that is responsive, reliable and 110% focused on YOU. If that’s what you need, contact us! We’ll discuss your company’s specific needs and how we can be of help .

Your website is a big part of your nonprofit organization, no matter who you are. However, maintaining your website takes a considerable amount of time and effort—and managing a nonprofit doesn’t come with that kind of time!

That is why organizations opt to hire an agency or web development company to help with designing and managing their website. Unfortunately, hiring website management services often has negative results. It’s critical to protect your nonprofit organization’s online assets in the event of a complicated situation.

I can’t tell you how many horror stories I’ve heard from nonprofit leaders about the nightmare they’ve experienced with a web design agency. From not having administrative access to having their entire website shut down!

Want to talk about reliable website management services? Contact me for information and pricing. With my subscription based website management services, you get dedicated time on your website each month.

It’s one thing to know how to do your job. It’s an altogether different thing to know how to prioritize your tasks and work efficiently. Being good at your job is much more than knowing how to complete tasks and smile at co-workers. As a business owner and entrepreneur, I’ve developed a daily pattern for my workday without even thinking about it. I take it for granted and assume that everyone else has this pattern, too.

My daily pattern for productivity at Work

Assessing

Quick Responding

Completing Tasks

Getting better at

Responding (round 2)

Planning

Without my daily pattern, the pile of work tasks can seem overwhelming. Without a daily pattern,

the wrong things get done first

more difficult tasks get pushed off and delayed regardless of their importance

I work harder and get less done

Here is the daily pattern I use to feel confident in my work every day.

Assessing

First, let me say what this is not. This is not diving right into getting work done, responding to emails, or returning phone calls. This is where I start my workday. I check my email and before doing anything else, I do an assessment. A lot has happened since yesterday’s end of the workday!

Are there any fires that need to be put out?

Do I need to rearrange the plan I had in place for today?

What are the top 2 or 3 priorities today?

One of the most valuable tools I use for this part of my day is the combination of Evernote with the short (and free!) video course at thesecretweapon.org.

Quick Responding

This is the part of my day that is the most dynamic and unpredictable. It’s also the most interesting. Address anything that can’t wait. I respond to anything that requires less than 5 minutes of my time. This can be

a quick email response,

putting something on my calendar,

responding to social media comments,

responding to LinkedIn messages,

responding to product inquiries,

or any task that takes less than 5 or 10 minutes to complete.

Responding is a part of the pattern that gets high priority because it often involves communicating with co-workers, prospects, and clients. Then, I leave my email alone.

Completing high priority tasks

It can be difficult to ever get around to this part of your job. Email and social media will always call for your attention. I remember when “multi-tasking” was considered a valuable skill to list on a resume.

Ha! Not anymore.

Multi-tasking is the enemy of productivity. At this point, you should not have to wonder, “What should I be doing now?” Why? Because you planned and prioritized your tasks at the end of the day yesterday and reviewed them at the beginning of the day today. Try not to check email. Sometimes people will try to engage you in a back and forth conversation through email. That’s okay if they don’t mind the conversation taking a few days. If someone needs to have an immediate conversation with you, then email or instant messaging is not the best way to reach you. Why? Because you are focused on your tasks. Focused = NOT. DISTRACTED.

Immediate conversations require phone calls or texting.

Getting better at

Professional development and training often get crowded out because of the never ending list of tasks. Schedule specific time for learning how to get better at . . . in your day or week. The actual order of this activity in your day will depend upon when you schedule it. Here’s the key: whenever this appointed time comes up, drop your tasks and make this the priority.

More responding

When I am nearing the end of my work day, I stop working on tasks and I get back into responding mode for a short period of time. I do a final check of my email and take care of quick responses. Anything else in my inbox that requires more than 10 minutes gets slotted into my planning for tomorrow’s task list.

Planning

The last part of my daily work pattern is planning for the next work day. This allows me to leave my work behind at the end of the work day. I look at any remaining tasks on my current list as well as new tasks that may have just popped up. While I’m planning, I keep my big goals up front. I remind myself of the overall goals of my business. If you are an employee, you might remind yourself of the reason you were hired.

The “Stop Doing” list

Planning is the last part of my daily pattern but I’m going to include this last tip that has helped with my productivity in a big way. It’s the opposite of the “TO-DO” List. It’s the list of bad habits that eat into my time. Things like

checking my email too frequently

allowing meetings to go on for too long

checking my personal social media accounts when I should be working

taking extended lunch breaks

waking up late

In summary, the pattern of my workday is

Assessing

Quick Responding

Completing Tasks

Getting better at

Responding (round 2)

Planning

Did you like reading this article? If so, leave a comment below. What is a daily pattern you use to be more productive at work?

In-person WordPress training equips you with the knowledge and skills required to manage your WordPress website with confidence. Watch the video below for details or read on further below to learn more about my customized WordPress training classes for business owners, IT staff, administrative staff, and marketing teams.

It’s time to take back control of your website.

Have you ever felt frustrated by the unresponsiveness of a website developer or agency? I know I sure have. If you don’t have control of your website, it could take days (or even weeks) to implement small changes.

In the meantime . . .

your company time, money, and reputation circle the drain while you wait for important website updates. You don’t have to let that happen anymore.

Click on the map markers to view companies I’ve served by location.

Clients Served

One-on-one WordPress Training

Do you need a personalized, one-on-one training experience? Then you’re probably looking for my one-on-one WordPress training. I’ll meet with you virtually or in-person to walk you through everything you need to know about building, managing and updating your WordPress website.

Corporate WordPress Training Classes and Workshops

Do you need two or more people available to manage and update your business website? If so, my on-site corporate WordPress training will give your team the skills they need to be successful with this responsibility. I’ll meet with your staff as a group to teach them basic to advanced WordPress–customized for their specific needs and goals.

Through WordPress training, I can help you remove the middle man. You’ll be equipped with the knowledge and skills you need to run, maintain and update your company’s website–all without having to deal with poor communication from third parties.

What to expect from one-on-one WordPress training

If you’re looking for a lengthy PowerPoint presentation and generic handouts, this probably isn’t the best program for you. When you book WordPress training with me, be prepared for an interactive, hands-on experience.

Get access to resources for a stronger foundation and preparation.

Two intensive, one-on-one sessions with me lasting 4-hours each.

Receive an additional 3 months of on-going support after your class.

Get started with one-on-one WordPress training

Step 1: Get in Touch

First things first. We’ll discuss your website goals and challenges. Understanding what you want to accomplish helps me customize your individual WordPress training for your unique needs. Already know WordPress basics? Great! Your training experience will be more advanced. This first conversation is also a great time to ask any additional questions you have about the process.

Step 2: Set a Date

We’ll get things off the ground by securing time on my calendar. Once we’ve have the training date(s) decided, I’ll provide a payment link via email. I will also send over some valuable resources based on your unique goals to tide you over until the big day.

Step 3: Learn by Doing

I’m a big proponent of kinetic learning – aka, learning by doing! And since you’re seeking some personalized training, it’s pretty safe to assume you’d like that kind of atmosphere too. We’ll meet in-person or via GoToMeeting as I guide you through the steps of managing WordPress.

Stop struggling with WordPress and unresponsive website developers.Contact me today to get started!

Give your in-house team control of the company website.

Have your employees ever gotten frustrated or behind schedule due to an unresponsive website developer or agency? Unfortunately, you’re not the only one. Does your sales department consider your company website an asset in closing sales? Too many teams lack internal command of the company website, which can create massive tension and issues. This lack of control means your staff may have to wait days (or even weeks) to implement changes, updates or new campaigns.

I’m sure I don’t have to tell you that it just doesn’t work.

With my staff WordPress training, I can help you remove the middle man and give your team the control it deserves. You’ll be equipped with the knowledge and skills you need to run, maintain and update your company website – all without having to deal with poor communication from third parties.

Get started with WordPress training for your staff.

Step 1: Let’s talk about your goals

Before we begin, we’ll discuss your goals and website challenges. Understanding what you want to accomplish helps me customize your company’s WordPress training to your unique needs. This is also a great time to ask any additional questions you have about the process.

Step 2: Schedule the training

We’ll find the perfect times for your staff to get together for training. Once that’s settled, I’ll provide a secure payment link via email. After payment, expect to receive some valuable resources based on your company’s unique goals to prepare you for the training.

Step 3: Put it into action

During my staff WordPress training, we walk through your company WordPress site. First, we’ll identify the items that are common to every WordPress website. Then, we’ll get into the unique challenges and structure of your specific website. Come prepared to get involved, take notes and absorb a lot! Our interactive lessons will equip your team with exactly what they need.

What to expect during WordPress training

If you want your team to sit through a lengthy PowerPoint presentation and generic handouts, this probably isn’t what you want. I’m here to provide your staff with an interactive, hands-on experience every step of the way.

Your Website Management Team

Rachel Pfanz and Emily Journey lead the WP Artisans team. They enjoy helping business owners leverage technology to increase sales and social impact.

What People Are Saying

WP Artisans has managed our website for 3 years and at least 80% of our business has come from the website they developed and manage for us. We’ve tried print, radio and online ads, but nothing compares to a website that is functional, well designed, and at the top of the list. WP Artisans knows how to do this and the web site is the single biggest reason we have grown from 3 planes to six planes in just two years."

Pat Rooney, Owner, Sundowner Aviation

Emily Journey and WP Artisans are not only the "Real Deal" when it comes to website management and SEO but are also incredibly knowledgeable, experts in what they do and good people! They completely redid our two websites www.ezshelf.com and www.brillseat.com. We previously tried numerous other firms some from India, others with an office here and work done in Eastern Europe, and others - our website prior to WP Artisans was a hodge-podge of hard coding, and over 39 plugins. It was impossible for us to maintain the websites by ourselves and SEO was like a secret language only our previous consultants knew. Emily and WP Artisans are committed to removing the curtain hiding the "Wizard of Oz" and to empowering individuals and companies to take back their website and marketing.

David Jablow, Founding Partner, EZShelf and BrillSeat

Emily manages my real estate website and is a great person to work with! She is always quick to respond to maintenance requests and she goes above and beyond so my website ensures the success of my business. I highly recommend her services!

Adam Knolls, Real Estate Broker, RE/MAX Revealty

Emily does a terrific job managing our Capital List web site! Not only does she provide extraordinary service but she also does a great job on coaching you about how to improve traffic. We've had several web sites over the years and Emily has been the very best person to work with on this vital part of our business.

This website is not affiliated with or sponsored by Automattic, Inc., The WordPress Foundation, or the WordPress Open Source Project.

In the spirit of full disclosure, some of the links on my site are affiliate links, which means that I may get a small commission if you decide to purchase anything from recommended companies. I only recommend products & systems that I use and love myself, so I know you’ll be in good hands.